Handgun vs. Pepper Spray

[Clipper]

I'd hate to have something go down too fast (as it probably would) to get to my spray, and have some A**hole assistant prosecutor asking me why I murdered that poor choirboy when I had the means to 'safely' disable him instead? No spray means no choice...

 

[Black Snowman]

I carry pepper spray IN ADDITION TO a gun. Just one more tool in the kit. As for things going down too fast, they'll turn that around on you too, particularly now that you've said it in a public forum. The differance is the DA is going to say "You went out that day planning to kill because you made sure you had no alternative!" No matter what you do they're going to spin it against you. Do the right thing, and your odds get better.

There's lots of times that pepper spray can be useful above and beyond stopping a 2 legged threat. I have a buddy who likes a quick shot on his burritos.

 

[MCgunner]

I've carried pepper spray IN ADDITION to a gun, but never in place of it. Pepper spray is for dousing the drunk who wants to fist fight. The gun is for more serious situations.

 

[tanksoldier]

2 reasons:

1. If the BG is close enough for pepperspray, by the time you evaluate his reation and decide that it didn't work and switch to the gun he could be on top if you.

2. The only time you draw your gun is if your life is in danger. The BG has a knife or gun or 2x4. You don't face down lethal force with non-lethal if you can help it.

Now, my personal ROE include a fistfight as a deadly confrontation... because I carry a gun which the BG might find while we're wrestling around and use on me. So, my ROE for a fistfight is to draw and warn them off... then shoot if they continue to close. Pepperspray might work in this case, but the gun is just as good, and again of the spray doesn't work you have to switch out weapons at close quarters.

Any of you carry pepper spray instead of a gun? Thinking about true self defense, it would seem the very last resort would be to shoot. You would always try to get yourself out of a bad situation, but in cases where you can't and you are feeling threatened, the threat is likely within a few feet. Pepper spray would disable the threat, so why no choose that over a gun?

So every person who was issued a CCW permit in Colorado is looking to shoot someone? In the whole COUNTRY? Hardly anyone carries CS & a gun... even many plainclothes officers only carry an ASP and a gun. Are cops looking to shoot or beat someone to death because they don't have the CS?

The differance is the DA is going to say "You went out that day planning to kill because you made sure you had no alternative!"

Nah, check his other posts... he seems OK.

Don't try and explain why you carry a gun to this guy, can't you see he is trying to bait you?

 

[Plink]

Pepper spray works differently on some folks. I have a friend who's with the Sheriffs dept. He's certified in several types of sprays and with certification comes being sprayed with it. A lot of them can fight through it and continue an attack though not as effectively.

I carry both pepper spray and a gun. My reasoning is that I can't morally or legally shoot an obnoxious drunk wanting to fight with me. I also can't risk him getting the best of me and gaining access to my gun. Pepper spray is one more line of defense. I came to the conclusion that as soon as I began carrying a gun, my brawling days were over.

Also, if I felt that pepper spray would defuse a situation and not resort in me needing to pull a gun, I'd sure use it. It's just one more option to have. I carry a tactical light as another option too. Works great on dogs as I found out the hard way.

 

[ranger53]

When I go out, if I don't carry, I've got pepper spray. Even, if I'm going to work. PERIOD!
tommy